The Deal Is Done
Posted by Michelle Moquin on October 17th, 2013
Good morning!
Well…It got down to the 11th hour.
The LATEST UPDATE in case you haven’t heard.
House Passes Bill: The Deal Is Done
The House passed the Senate compromise by a vote of 285-144. Only 87 Republicans voted in favor of the measure, while 144 opposed it. This means it violated the so-called “Hastert Rule,” guidance that House Republicans have stuck to, until now, that requires a majority of the ruling party to support a bill before it’s allowed to come up for a vote.
The compromise will now go to the President’s desk to be signed, and then the debt ceiling will be raised and government funding will be restored. The two other major provisions in the bill — creating an income verification for recipients of subsidies under Obamacare’s exchanges, and establishing a committee of Representatives and Senators to have further budget negotiations — will likely be rolled out in the coming days.
*****
Readers: The government shutdown is dead. Obamacare is alive. That’s it for me today. What’s going on with you? Blog me.
Anonymous: Beautiful. I too HOPE you find what you are seeking.
Anonymous: Another beautiful poem. Reading your words gave me a wonderful feeling and such visuals. Thank you.
Lora: How sweet. I am delighted that your Grandma turned you onto my blog, and now you both read. Thanks for being here. I HOPE you are doing well Grandma! Oh Lora, loved your poem too. :) Speaking of poems…
To the poetry writers signing off as “Anonymous”: I am loving your sweet poems. However, I do not think that all of you are the same writer. Perhaps you can choose another name so that we may give praise and recognize each of you individually. Thank you.
Caroline: Thank you. Those are some pretty amazing women on this blog that you mentioned. And I am sure they, like me, are happy that they have a positive influence on young girls and women. Here’s to stripping away the limitations that others put on us and that we ourselves make our story too.
Robert Reich: Several readers have posted your comments here over the years. Nice to see you (?) personally visiting and commenting on my blog.
Zen Lill: Happy to hear you had fun and the partying continues!
Peace out.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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October 17th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
According to S&P, the 16-day impasse drained $24 billion from the economy.
Remember that when you next go to the polls, folks.
To help you, here a list of the repugnants who voted no on the budget deal:
Ted Cruz and Joyn Cornyn, Texas
Mike Lee, Utah
Tom Coburn, Oklahoma
Tim Scott,South Carolina
Rand Paul, Kentucky
Marco Rubio, Florida
Mike Crapo, Idaho
Mike Enzi, Wyoming,
Chuck Grassley, Iowa
Dean Heller, Nevada
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin
Pat Roberts, Kansas
James Risch, Idaho
Jeff Sessions, Alabama
Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania
David Vitter, Louisiana.
Let’s get these neanderthal men who hold no value for anybody but themselves OUT!
/SB
October 18th, 2013 at 10:09 am
Social Butterfly, you are so right. If only the sheep could hold a thought in their heads for more than a week, we would be able to get rid of those idiots.
October 18th, 2013 at 10:12 am
Hafa adai:
Thank you whoever got Typhoon Francisco to barely touch Guam on Friday. We got wet but it is doing it damage in Japan where you intended, I think.
Sorry Japan, but it’s your fault. Stop polluting the seas.
October 18th, 2013 at 10:16 am
I was going to post on today’s blog but I saw you entry Leland. Good for you to put out the alert. For those of you off the island visiting and are interested in what is happening at home here is the link.
http://www.guampdn.com/article/20131018/NEWS01/131018003/BREAKING-NEWS-Guam-Condition-Readiness-1
Guam is still within the storm’s region of tropical storm-force winds. Sustained winds in excess of 40 mph are expected to continue through this afternoon as Typhoon Francisco continues to move north-northwestward at about 14 mph, according to the National Weather Service. A tropical storm warning is still in effect for Guam; a tropical storm watch is still in effect for Rota, Tinian and Saipan.
Hafa Adai
Anna
October 18th, 2013 at 10:25 am
Curcumin: The Spice of Life
Dear Health Conscious Reader,
Nearly every day, a patient or two asks me which supplements I consider most important. The answer really depends on the individual’s overall health and lifestyle, things such as diet, exercise, medications, sleep habits, and similar considerations. But as a rule, I most often recommend the following:
• A good comprehensive multivitamin
• An omega-3 supplement with a high DHA level
• Vitamin D3, and
• Curcumin
While most of my patients and readers know about the benefits of the first three, today, I want to make sure you understand the amazing health benefits of curcumin. Supported by findings from literally thousands of studies, curcumin is shaping up as the supplement of the decade. That’s right, curcumin is so essential, it is going to be the powerhouse supplement of the entire next decade.
That’s because emerging research is indicating that curcumin may be among the most powerful and versatile health supplements impacting everything from colds to cancer.
In fact, important new findings have determined that this spice can:
• Protect against the ravages of aging
• Enhance heart health and inhibit the formation of LDL (bad) cholesterol
• Help protect against age related memory loss
• Help maintain healthy cells and neutralize damaging free radicals
• Maintain healthy, pain-free joints
• Reduce chronic and damaging inflammation
• Counteract damage caused by radiation
• Support healthy kidneys and liver
• Encourage the body’s own detoxification efforts and help eliminate such health-damaging contaminants as heavy metals
• Help prevent blood platelets from sticking together, thereby improving circulation
And recent studies suggest that curcumin may combat stem cell (where concern begins) as well as battle against prostate, colon, breast, and liver cancers.
A Closer Look at Curcumin
The name curcumin may not be a household word — yet. But turmeric, the bright yellow spice from which it’s derived, has been used for centuries as both a medicine and a spice in Indian cooking, especially in dishes known as curry.
Curcumin is the most active ingredient in turmeric, a plant related to ginger. A few years ago, I learned that some of our most devastating chronic health conditions, including arthritis and Alzheimer’s, are far less common in India and Asia. Upon reflection, I realized that our traditional diets could play a role.
Americans tend to consume processed, prepared, low-nutrition food and beverages that spur inflammation. In other words, the way we eat is killing us.
The Western diet is devoid of many vital nutrients and antioxidants and is, instead, packed with processed foods, sugars, and fats that speed up the aging process and work against us in the fight to stay healthy.
Asian diets (especially Indian), on the other hand, are seasoned with curry which contains turmeric as the dominant ingredient, and therefore, the antioxidant benefits of curcumin.
Yet, sadly, when people from that area of the world come to live in this country and adopt the traditional American diet, within one generation, they too, are confronted with the same health issues that many of us here face.
The Truth About Inflammation
Inflammation is not always the enemy.
In fact, it can be enormously helpful when it comes to healing wounds and fending off bacteria and viruses in the body. The moment our bodies are under attack by potentially harmful invaders, antibodies rush to the scene of the attack, and inflammation helps to defend any tissue that may have been infected.
Under normal conditions, once the job is done and the invading elements are wiped out, the inflammation retreats, and healing can begin. But, under abnormal conditions, inflammation continues and our bodies suffer the repercussions.
And, because inflammation is like a small, on-going fire in the body, you may not even be aware of it except for unexplained aches and pains.
And, unfortunately, there is increasing evidence that our diets contribute to these “small fires” that cause us so much discomfort. Because our diets are working against us in the fight to stay healthy, inflammation is reaching pandemic levels.
But the antioxidants found in curry powder and, specifically, curcumin, play a significant role in helping to reduce inflammation and maintaining vibrant health.
Here’s the good news: adding curcumin to your supplement routine can help a plethora of health problems.
And this is why I’m calling curcumin the supplement of the decade. Within the next 5-10 years, I’m firmly convinced that taking curcumin will be as commonly acknowledged as taking a daily multi-vitamin is today.
But you should get started with curcumin now because…
Curcumin Aids So Many Serious Health Conditions Including:
1. Curcumin and Inflammation
Studies repeatedly show that curcumin’s anti-inflammatory abilities are effective at relieving joint and muscle pain. And, not only does curcumin work, but it also comes without the worrisome side effects experienced by more than half of those who take prescription medications. Furthermore, curcumin is also shown to ease the pain of minor injuries.
2. Curcumin and Blood Sugar
Individuals with blood sugar problems or borderline blood sugar concerns can also benefit from curcumin. In fact, in one study, a group of nearly 250 adults with borderline blood sugar concerns was divided in half.
One portion received curcumin supplements, while the other was given a placebo (a dummy pill with no medical ingredients). Nine months later, none of the participants taking curcumin had developed severe blood sugar problems, while 20% of those taking the placebo had.
Also, patients who already have high blood sugar may find that curcumin supplements ease the mental and physical dysfunctions, such as difficulty focusing, caused by blood sugar problems.
3. Curcumin and Heart Health
As I mentioned earlier, curcumin can manage inflammation. That’s important to anyone interested in maintaining a healthy heart because inflammation is a key factor in cardiovascular concerns.
Recent research shows that curcumin’s heart-health benefits extend beyond reducing inflammation. One recent animal study, for example, found that curcumin protected heart functions and strengthened the body’s own internal cardiovascular repair system.
4. Curcumin and Memory Loss
I would love to be able to definitively say that curcumin can have a positive effect on the dreaded Alzheimer’s, and we are hopeful that in a few years that will be true. Scientists are demonstrating curcumin’s ability to enhance memory and reduce other age-related brain malfunctions in lab animals. While this research is preliminary, it is the first step to adding another monumental benefit to curcumin.
5. Curcumin and DNA
Research shows curcumin is powerful and versatile when it comes to DNA and chromosome protection. Very promising research results are verified and updated continually, so expect to hear more about how curcumin protects DNA and chromosomes from free radical damage in the near future.
In fact, a new study of more than 700 clinical trials involving curcumin and DNA protection found curcumin to be effective in treating DNA and chromosomes suffering from free radical damage.
6. Curcumin and Obesity
With no sign that the obesity epidemic is losing steam, scientists all over the world are searching for the magic bullet to help desperate dieters lose weight.
While there is no substitute for a nutritious, whole-foods diet and regular exercise, several studies show that curcumin supplements can help suppress the development of fatty tissues.
The Battle Within: Antioxidants vs. Free Radicals
One of the most widely-accepted theories about why we age — and, subsequently, begin to experience more health concerns as we grow older — involves free radicals.
These are dangerous molecules that are produced in our bodies as a result of natural biochemical processes like digestion but they are a result of exposure to normal environmental factors such as chemicals, pollution, processed foods, prescription medications, and more.
These free radicals are described as “unstable” because they have only one electron, forcing them to travel through the body, disrupting healthy cells in search of electrons to bond with. This cellular activity starts a chain reaction that creates more free radicals, which can wreak havoc, accelerating aging and DNA damage, and all of the problems that come with it.
Fortunately, antioxidants exist to help defend your body from these dangerous “rebel cells.”
Antioxidants fight free radicals by “donating” electrons to them to stop this destructive cycle and create a balanced environment for good health within the body.
Said more plainly, they go a long way toward keeping your youthful health and appearance intact. And, as natural antioxidant production slows with age, it becomes increasingly difficult to get them from the foods we eat without a natural supplement.
October 18th, 2013 at 10:32 am
Caroline, congratulations. Your idol, Michelle, acknowledged you. Now maybe you can call your big sister who raised your ass when mother took off with that drunk.
Just because I didn’t approve he left me out of the will. But guess what this girl did it on her own, without a man. But you wouldn’t know that because you swore me off because I didn’t attend your wedding.
I was right thought, he only wanted you for your money. I told you to get a pre-nup, but you said love was a thing of trust.
I trust he is enjoying his half of your fortune. Call me I promise I won’t say “I told you so.”
Love
Cecilia
October 18th, 2013 at 10:35 am
Zen Lill, Happy belated birthday. I too would love to celebrate with you for your birthday or whatever.
I live in Santa Barbara. It would be nice to come up or over if your were interested.
Daniel
October 18th, 2013 at 10:47 am
When I was on your planet
I looked deed inside
To see all I had to see
Now that I have boarded to be gone
It’s like I knew all along
Earth held nothing for me.
Let’s salvage it and be done.
October 18th, 2013 at 10:48 am
The way I see it is we will be doing it all over again in January.
October 18th, 2013 at 10:52 am
Bonjour Zen Lill:
I live in Everux France. You have long been a favorite of mine on this blog. I too wish to extend my regards toward your birthday festivities. My home is situated almost exactly between Caen and Paris. So if you are ever visiting either one please announce it on the blog.
I would definitely travel to either to greet you.
Eric.
October 18th, 2013 at 11:01 am
Social Butterfly, you couldn’t be more right. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi cited on the House floor before the vote. “My colleagues, do you think that your recklessness was worth $24 billion to our economy?” she said of Republicans in the House. “This recklessness is a luxury the American people cannot afford.”
It was to that list of your merely an exercise in a mean-spirited bid to deny affordable health insurance to millions.
October 18th, 2013 at 11:03 am
OMG , you didn’t really say that Cee!
October 18th, 2013 at 11:04 am
Where the fuck is Guam? and why is it always on this blog?
What the fuck Michelle, you have enough niggers and sluts writing in. Why these foreign fucks?
October 19th, 2013 at 11:45 am
Frozen Broccoli: How to Restore Its Cancer-Fighting Power
Broccoli got a bum rap when President George H.W. Bush declared that he didn’t like it and never again wanted to see it served in the White House or on Air Force One. I hope you don’t share his aversion, because broccoli is super-healthful.
It’s high in fiber, folate, vitamin C and antioxidants…and because it contains a cancer-fighting compound called sulforaphane, eating just a few servings per week can reduce your cancer risk.
But:
If you buy your broccoli frozen, you don’t get the full benefits—because the prefreeze processing and typical cooking method destroy the vegetable’s anticancer properties.
Cool new discovery:
There’s a simple trick you can use to restore frozen broccoli’s super powers, a recent study reveals.
A DELICATE BALANCE
Bear with me while I explain some basic broccoli chemistry and the trial-and-error process the researchers used to come up with this discovery.
You know the pungent odor that fills your kitchen when you grind up broccoli scraps in your disposal? That smell comes from all the sulfur compounds, one of which is the sulforaphane responsible for broccoli’s ability to combat cancer. When you eat fresh broccoli, you get lots of sulforaphane, provided you eat it raw or nearly raw (for instance, steamed for no more than three to five minutes). But when broccoli is frozen, the sulforaphane is lost. Here’s why…
Sulforaphane is created when another compound found in broccoli, glucoraphanin, comes in contact with one of broccoli’s enzymes, myrosinase. This contact occurs when broccoli is chewed or chopped.
Typically, before broccoli is frozen, commercial vegetable processors extend its shelf life by blanching it at a very high temperature (typically above 200°F) to inactivate its peroxidase, an enzyme thought to cause broccoli to degrade over time. Unfortunately, this high heat also inactivates the myrosinase—thus rendering the glucoraphanin incapable of creating sulforaphane.
Researchers at the University of Illinois tried to get around this problem by blanching broccoli at a lower temperature before freezing it. They discovered that blanching at 169°F did preserve most of the myrosinase. Yet after this blanched broccoli was frozen and then cooked, the researchers found that no sulforaphane formed. They realized that this is because the typical instructions for cooking frozen broccoli are to microwave it—which again raises the temperature too high and/or for too long.
In other words, the myrosinase in frozen broccoli gets hit with a double whammie from both the blanching and the microwaving. (Note that, even with fresh broccoli, cooking the vegetable too long inactivates the myrosinase.)
So then the researchers took a different approach. Instead of worrying about blanching temperatures or cooking methods, they instead added an outside source of myrosinase—a bit of ground freeze-dried daikon radish (a mild-flavored radish that looks sort of like a fat white carrot)—while the frozen broccoli was being cooked.
The amount of radish powder the researchers added was too little to change the taste or appearance of the broccoli, but it provided enough myrosinase to allow the interaction with glucoraphanin, triggering the formation of sulforaphane. Thus the frozen broccoli’s cancer-fighting properties were restored!
TRY THIS AT HOME
Hopefully, commercial food processors will catch on to this new technique for preserving frozen broccoli’s full nutritional punch and start sprinkling on some daikon powder at the processing plant. Until that happens, though, you can easily perform this bit of food magic yourself at home.
Simply add some freeze-dried daikon (comparable to the amount of salt you’d normally add) to your frozen broccoli either before or after cooking it. You can find daikon radish (also called white radish) at Asian grocery stores, Whole Foods stores or online.
Another option:
Whenever you eat broccoli that has been frozen, in the same meal include another outside source of myrosinase, such as raw red radishes, cabbage slaw or watercress…or eat one-quarter teaspoon of horseradish, wasabi or mustard along with your serving of broccoli.
Source: Elizabeth Jeffery, PhD, professor, department of food science and human nutrition, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her study was published in Journal of Food Sciences.
October 19th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Talk to me, talk to me.
That’s all I ask.
It’s really such a simple task.
A little conversation, that’s all I need.
Will no one help me, in this big city?
I’m alone, frightened and scared.
Does anyone have a moment to spare?
Can anyone hear my plea for pity?
Help me now before it’s too late.
Loneliness overwhelms me.
I fear suicide is my fate.
Can anyone please do me this favor?
Reach out and talk to this lonely stranger.